I got back home from a holiday and found the dress, I was supposed to wear at the function we had attended, lying on the bed. I was shocked that I had managed to leave it there despite the fact that I had spent time selecting it and had also kept it out well in advance so I that I didn’t forget to pack it. While catering to the multiple needs of my two year old son, I had also forgotten to pack my sunglasses, umbrella and SLR CAMERA. Thanks to Sharp J-Phone (who first introduced mobile phone cameras) my mobile phone had a camera that I used generously this holiday.

I had never been this confused before, so, for all our benefit, I decided to pen down a list of things that we would require to pack on any holiday with the kids. Feel free to add and subtract as per your lifestyle.

1. CLOTHES: Of course, the first thing on our minds is clothes. But then ‘clothes’ not only includes casual wear like dresses, tops, pants and overalls. You have to remember to also pack other items like underwear, lingerie, party wear and a pair of jeans to use with every top you’ve packed.
   Summer wear  : Hats, sunglasses and swim-wear.
   Winter wear    : Muffler, cap, jacket, socks and stockings.
   Baby wear       : Diapers, mittens, booties, swaddles, burp cloth and bibs.
   Women wear   : Sanitary napkins (just in case your visitor chose the wrong time).
   If you are going for seven days, multiply the kids’ clothes by two for non-messy kids and three for the messy ones. You can carry a travel iron in case your clothes need it.
2. FOOTWEAR: Includes everything from party wear, boots, slippers, walking shoes or crocs, flip-flops and water shoes to climb waterfalls.
3. ACCESSORIES: I’m not sure how many of these you will be able to wear but it’s good to be ready. A couple of necklaces, bracelets, rings, anklets and pairs of earrings should suffice unless you can handle exact matching pairs for each outfit you have packed in. A couple of hairbands and a few clips and ponytail hair ties should be good for your little ones.
4. COVERS: We carry a couple of covers for the kids so they don’t have to use the ones given in the airplane or bus because they are bound to snooze during long journeys. If you are particular about using your own, carry one for yourself too.
   
5. TOILETRIES: We have a separate pouch for our toiletries which include toothbrush, tiny toothpaste tube, miniatures of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel and sun-tan lotion. Similar items for the kids along with baby wash, lotion and baby powder. If you want, you can carry your massage oil for your baby and you too.
   Now-a-days we get packets of these in travel-sizes which make it all the more convenient for packing. I carry this pouch even if I’m staying at a 5 star hotel because we are impulsive human beings who can suddenly do an unplanned road trip to a destination nearby.
   Do make sure you DO NOT keep this pouch in your handbag because there are chances of confiscation by authorities at certain airports.
6. FOOD: We, Indians, love carrying food along with us lest there may be a famine in the next couple of hours away from home. During travel by flight, I carry the bare minimum like peanuts or grapes. On a road trip there will be a bag, filled with foodstuff, kept in the back seat. I normally carry leftovers which would spoil by the time we got back home. For example, tomatoes, open packets of chips or biscuits, nuts, fruits, etc. For the babies you can carry infant formula, store-bought baby foods and porridge to keep the hunger pangs at bay.
7. MEDICAL: I normally carry a tube each of rash cream and mosquito repellent. Some of my friends carry these medicines for kids wherever they go: fever, cough, ear pain, motion sickness and gas. If you are on medication, don’t forget your medicines as well as your prescriptions. A pouch for your medicines is a must.
   
8. STROLLER: This has proved to be a blessing in disguise especially when you are staying at a huge resort spread over many acres. It was also a boon in Singapore and Europe, where you tend to walk a lot, and they have well-built walkways with slopes at every end. Pushing your baby in a stroller allows you to walk comfortably without hurting your back. Also, you are allowed to take the stroller until the door of the airplane. But, if you are planning to stay at the beach or at someone’s house with no elevator, it is advisable not to take the stroller along as it can prove to be just an extra piece of bulky luggage. You decide.
   
9. MAKEUP: For us women, make-up is something some of us wear every day. So, carry a lipstick, foundation, eye-liner, kajal and blush. Your make up can probably go into your toiletries pouch if you don’t already have a dedicated pouch for makeup. My hand-bag must-haves are generally a moisturizer, lip balm and cologne. 
10. DEVICES: Some people love going on holidays without any devices but as a born photographer, I cannot live without a camera. I have this itching urge to capture memories wherever I go. Don’t forget to take the memory card, charging cable and extra battery if necessary. There are times when I have forgotten the memory card back home in the bedlam of packing. In today’s world we do not go to sleep without our mobiles and chargers nearby so you cannot miss this when going on a holiday. Till now, I have avoided taking the tablet or any other electronic devices for my kids so they enjoy the real world on a holiday. Let’s see how long I can push it.

These are the generic items to pack for a long vacation with kids. Also, an efficient way to pack your clothes is to roll them up and stuff them in every corner possible, keeping in mind the weight limits by your respective flight or cruise liner. As far as I know, you can pack however you want for a road or train trip.

Our brain is indeed like a computer, but with kids it is definitely messed up. Looking up at the list, it was no wonder why I had forgotten a few things now that I’m a mother of two. There are so many sub-categories that you have to keep in mind that with last minute packing it is just not possible to remember every little thing.

Hope this is helpful to many of you. If I’ve missed out on something, do let me know so I can add it up here for myself and other parents with a travel bug. Bon voyage!

#LetsBlogwithPri is a Blog Train hosted by Prisha Lalwani, Author at Mummasaurus. I wholeheartedly thank Isha Sharma, Author at Just Maa, for introducing me in her blog about pregnancy during summers. Also, I would like to introduce Sweta Kachhap, Author at Cloud and Sunshine. Do read her review on father’s day.

Hosted By :Prisha Lalwani Mummasaurus.com IG: @mummasaurus1 FB: /mummasaurus1